Italy’s Simone Tempestini is one step closer to claiming the 2016 Junior World Rally Championship after winning the 2016 Rallye Deutschland.
The Italian showed that he could win on the tarmac as Tempestini took the lead of the rally on Friday’s Day 1 after SS4, leading by +12.1 seconds ahead of Slovakia’s Martin Koči.
Throughout the rally, Tempestini had a steady lead over Koči until the final day of Rallye Deutschland as he won the final day’s opening stage to claim his fourth win of the 2016 Junior WRC season.
Koči was +38.9 seconds behind the rally-winner Tempestini in second, while France’s Terry Folb claimed the final podium spot in third after racking up five stage wins over the event.
Romain Martel and Vincent Dubert were fourth and fifth, while Mohamed Al Mutawaa was sixth. Norway’s Ole Christian Veiby was seventh after rejoining under Rally2 regulations after suffering multiple offs during the Rallye Deutschland weekend.
Rallye Deutschland-winner Tempestini said “I’m pleased with the result, but most of all I’m pleased with our approach, we made the right calls all weekend, whether it was in terms of the set-up or the tyres.
“We were cautious when needed to keep out of trouble and then we pushed when the conditions were right to do so. During the recce, I could never have imagined just how dirty the roads would become as more cars completed the stages.
“After a few turns on SS1, I understood that we would need to take car on every corner. We have scored some very important points in terms of the championship and we can now turn our attention to the Tour de Corse. It’s a rally that I have already taken part in and it’s one of my favourites.”